Cricket: Stalemate not option in shield campaign

Lance Hamilton (left) and Heinrich Malan want to teach youngsters how to win.

CD Stags v Wgtn Firebirds Day 4, Plunket Shield

It's up there with accepting the decision of a white shirt pointing his finger skywards when a batsman misses the ball as it thuds into his pad before the stumps.

That is, irreconcilable verdicts when engaging in the age-old custom of declarations in the sanctum of a team's dressing room in the longer format of the game, but mindful even the great unwashed out there will cross examine the captain with a degree of culpability.

When is a skipper's declaration of an innings - based on variables such as deliveries to go, runs required and wickets in hand - reasonable or downright crazy as the best strategic option in the quest for victory?

"It's always interesting thinking what is a good score and what isn't," said Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags coach Heinrich Malan last night shortly after they lost by five wickets to the Wellington Firebirds in Nelson in their Budget Rental Plunket Shield match.

"You have to give them [Wellington] something otherwise they will simply close up shop," Malan said after captain Kruger van Wyk declared at 273-8 to set a target of 306 for the visitors to chase at Saxton Oval with opener Ben Smith 117 not out.

Did Van Wyk, on the advice of his other senior members, take into consideration to give something to his bowlers to defend?

Malan had no doubts because settling for another drawn affair on the heels of the stalemate against Otago Volts in the opening round in Napier wasn't an option.

"Our boys have to learn how to win ... so it's a learning curve for them and it's satisfactory."

It pleased him that his predominantly young charges cashed in on a relatively good Saxton Oval wicket with leftie George Worker's double century setting the tone.

Smith's unbeaten ton, following his double century at Nelson Park, came at the cost of a broken thumb "shows tenacity and character" from the Ruahine Motors CHB batsman who is now out for several weeks.

Fellow CHB bowler Blair Tickner's career-best, five-wicket from two innings also pleased him. "We need to plan and execute a little bit better," said Malan, alluding to the need for spinners, in particular, bowling to their field placements or, alternatively, the team setting an appropriate field to a bowler's requirements.

The attention now shifts from first-class matches to the Georgie Pie Super Smash T20 campaign in New Plymouth from Monday next week in a warm-up game against New Plymouth before hosting the Otago Volts there on November 5 and 7.

This Friday, Malan will watch the Chapple Cup (CD eight-team interdistrict one-day tourney) at Nelson Park before announcing his T20 Stags the following day. Of key interest will be Jesse Ryder playing for his district of origin, Wairarapa.

Adam Milne will not come into the T20 fray until the third game because of a 10-day rest plan. In the other shield game, the Volts are in trouble against Canterbury (scoreboard, P31).